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Not sure where to start here. June was a good month in many ways but has ended rather sadly. My lab, Sandy, had many good days and walks in the forest but her melanoma came back abruptly last week and we had to say good bye to her. I was very grateful to have these past months with her seeing her enjoy her walks and time with me. I was also grateful that though this return of disease was annoying, she was not in pain. It would have been harder to see her suffer.

The stitching we did this month involved making some table runners for gifts. I can show the pictures now because the birthday girls have now opened their presents. These table runners were from a pattern that was for free and posted, I think, during one of the holiday blog hops a year or two ago. Unfortunately, what I printed out didn't include the designer so I don't know where to give credit for this idea. If anyone recognizes it...please let me know and I'll post it here. It uses fat quarters or yardage and is fast and kind of fun. The quilting is mostly SID and a five point star in the center.
Thanks to Mary, I now have the designer info...head over to Quiltbug at http://www.quiltbug.com/free/table-topper.htm  to see the pattern for the table runner.

I finished the stitching on Blackbird Sings and washed the Transfer Eze off. The stitching looks a little wobbly and loose with the layer of product gone. I should have pulled my stitches tighter and may have to change my feelings about embroidery hoops.  I have since stitched a lobster on a towel...which was on a thin terry cloth towel...using the Transfer Eze and a hoop and the stitches came out nicely. I'll show a picture of that later but the hoop may be the needed change.
I'm machine and hand piecing a little charm quilt that is to be another gift so the picture for that will have to wait as well. The handwork is a helpful distraction here. We are planning to rescue another dog soon to help our hearts  heal. Sandy and Bridget rescued us from loss years ago and another rescue seems like our best idea. Dogs are the best medicine.

giveaway alert

Margaret won the copy of Sonoma Rose that was recently reviewed and given away here. She has enjoyed her read and is now passing it on for someone else to win. Go visit Powers That Bee Quilting to view some of her lovely machine quilting and to enter her giveaway.
I've been working on some gift projects that I can't show till next month and working on some embroidery....more later...:-)

Finished PIGs

 DH helped me with quilt holding for pictures to show some of the quilts I have completed recently. The first one is from a kit I purchased from Fig Tree fall of 2010 at PIQF. This pattern was written with a good plan for dealing with all the bias in this quilt. I used a pattern called Feathered Curls for the quilting.

This one is more Fig Tree fabric that I purchased back in 2005? and is used in a Schnibbles pattern called Four Corners. I love the pale lime green border! I quilted it with feathers from a pattern called Chocolate Feathers.

I used the same Schnibbles pattern to use up still more floral scraps from the quilt I made for my mom last year. Quilted with Feathered Curls. This will go to my cousin who loves romantic and Victorian decor. She is traveling in Italy with my sister right now so I will send it to arrive when they get home.

Today I'm sewing borders on the Double Wedding Ring quilt that I'm finishing from a class back in 2003 (!) I leave you here with views from inside the sewing room and out the front window. I have a good group of helpers :-)

new blogger and quilt show

This is my first time posting with the new format so I'll just have to see how this goes. Elinor is sitting in my lap, 'helping me'.
The local Seven Sister's Quilt Show was this past weekend and I have a few photos to share of quilts I enjoyed.
First of course, a turtle. Really lovely!

 This one was a favorite partly because of the lime green border.

 Loved this country road of mailboxes.

 Nice selection of colors and applique in this one.

 This may have been my favorite in the show. The smaller blocks in borders around the center and the big stitch quilting.

 My friend won a ribbon! This is gorgeous with wonderful quilting.

I have some quilts of my own completed but need to coordinate with my quilt holder to get pictures of them. So more later...

what's on my bed linky party

Bonnie Hunter is having a linky party showing off bed quilts. Here's mine though I actually am not that fond of this quilt and have it turned over showing just the lovely plain backing fabric most of the time. I love Courthouse Steps patterns but apparently not when the strips are cut 2.5 inches and maybe not in such light fabrics. I was going for a blendy look but oh well....live and learn :-)

Quilt finish and some news

The dog quilt is completed. I used a design of dog bones and paw prints for the quilting. The backing fabric choice changed but the rawhide bones worked well for the border.












Being inspired by Buster from Carol's Crafty Creations I wanted to try a photo shoot with Mosley. I do not have a cooperative group!

Even with cookies in my hand, he had to be led out with a leash and would only tolerate this silliness for a brief moment.
But oh well...the quilt is done and will be given to my friend soon.

Other news is not so good. Bridget has been blind since her bout with pneumonia for some still unknown reason and though improving in strength, the blindness and weakness from the arthritis had reduced her life to mostly challenges. While sleeping Tuesday evening, she started tensing up and shivering which were signs of her fighting off a fever. Her distress increased quickly and we knew that we needed to let her go. We were able to get comfort for her quickly (thanks to a pet ER) but it was very sad to say good bye to her.
Bridget and her sister, Sandy came to us from the county animal shelter 6 years ago. We have been so blessed by these girls. Sandy has some health issues of her own now so our days with her may be short as well. We are grateful for each moment we are given of our dogs being happy and able to enjoy their life.

Back from Tucson

I enjoyed safe travel and was treated like a Princess :-) while visiting with two friends and an adorable Brittany named Lizzi. We visited a quilt shop in Green Valley..Heart and Hand...where I found some tiny scissors allowed on airplanes and also some black fabric to use in the dog quilt I making.  We also enjoyed delightful pedicures and a beautiful hike up into the Santa Rita mountains where we put those same pampered feet to good use. The weather was perfect!
Lizzi, the lizard hunter.














This view overlooks Tucson.

My Lead Hikers :-)

View of Mt Wrightson which is at a 9453 ft elevation.

We hiked from the 5500 ft level to the 7080 ft Saddle and went about 6.5 miles.
No blisters for me in my Nikes but I slipped and slid the whole way. Note: proper hiking boots are apparently a needed safety item!



















More challenges with the canines made it hard to leave home but my DH did a wonderful job helping everyone back to health and comfort. I came home to happier dogs.
While traveling, I enjoyed stitching on my Blackbird Sings embroidery. The last couple of days I finished putting the borders on the dog quilt and making the backing for it. It is loaded on the longarm where I hope to start quilting it today.
quilt pics next week :-)